Combined head-gear and ear-trumpet.



m. 739,0ga. PATENTBD'SEPT.15, 1903. T. w. MESSENGER. GDMBINED HEAD G'EARAND EAR TRUMPET.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 21. 1902. '8

H0 MODEL. 2 SHBETS8HEET 1.

No. 739,098. PATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903.

T. W. MESSENGER.

COMBINED HEAD GEAR AND EAR TRUMPET.

APPLICATION rum) JULY 21. 1902.

fio MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,.

" UNITED STATES Patented September 15, 1903. l

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS WILLIAM MESSENGER, or QUORN, SOUTH AUSTRALIA,

, AUSTRALIA.

COMBINED HEAD-GEAR AND EAR-TRUMPET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 739,098, datedSeptember 15, 1903.

Application filed July 21, 1902.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILLIAM Mus- SENGER, engineer, a subject ofthe King of Great Britain, residing at Quorn, in the State of SouthAustralia, in the Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in a Combined Head- Gear and Ear-Trumpet, ofwhich the following is a specification. 7 My invention relates tocertain improvements in ear-trumpets for the use more particularly ofthose afiiicted with deafness.

My invention is also applicable for the use "of reporters and others ina large hall or in rooms with defective acoustic properties where it isdesirable to accentuate the soundwaves.

The object of my invention is to provide an effective instrument whichcan be used with very little inconvenience and which will not beunsightly or conspicuous. I accomplish this object by constructing aninstrument in which means for concentrating the sound waves, such as oneor more ear trumpets having downwardly projecting earpieces, arearranged within a framework which is itself adapted to form the crown ofa hat, cap, or other head-covering. These trumpets are so arrangedwithin the framework that the open mouths extend toward the front andare adapted to bear upon the forehead. In this way use is made of thewell-known fact that the hearing is considerably assisted by a portionof the instrument bearing upon the bones of the head. The downwardlyprojecting earpieces are made extensible and with flexible joints andare so arranged that they may be adapted to suit the requirements of theper-son using them. They are furthermore constructed in such manner thatthey may be doubled inward for the purpose of occupying a small compassfor carrying from place to place.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a bottom view of an instrumentconstructed according to my invention, showing the framework as adaptedto form the crown of a hat or cap. Fi 2 is a plan, partly an improvedearpiece.

Serial No. 116,3?8. (No model.)

in section, on line a d, Fig. 3; and Fig. 3, a front view, also partlyin section, on the line at, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of Fig.5 is a perspective view showing the adaptation of my invention to anordinary straw hat; Fig. 6, a side sectional view of an instrumentconstructed according to my invention.

A is the framework of the instrument, and this is constructed,preferably, of wire bent to the required shape and size and may, ifnecessary, be covered with wire-gauze or netting. In the accompanyingdrawings it will be seen that the framework A is made ovalshaped toadapt itself to form the crown of an ordinary hat or cap; but it will beWell understood that this framework may be made of any convenient shapeaccording to the design of head-covering required. In this way it may,if necessary, be adapted for use as a bonnet or other head-coverin g forladies wear. lVithin this framework A are provided two ear-trumpets B,arranged at the top and constructed of the necessary shape to conoentrate the sound-waves.

For the purpose of adapting the instrument to various sizes the ends ofthe wires of the framework may be made to iit within sleeves A and thetrumpets B are connected by means of plates E, having slots and athumbsorewE. By means of the thumb-screwE the trumpets B may be fixed inany position and the framework A made larger or smaller, as may berequired.

The ear-trumpets B are arranged with their bell-shaped mouths B opentoward the front and are extended forward to such an extent that theybear upon the top of the forehead,

as shown more particularly in Fig. (5. In this way the metal of theear-trumpets is adapted to lie in close contact with the bones of thehead, and the hearing is thereby considerably assisted. The ear-trumpetsBthen extend back to the rear portion of the framework A and are madetapering in the ordinary way. At the back of the framework A thetrumpets are doubled upon themselves and extend forward to immediatelyabove the ears. necessary, the rear portion of the trumpets B may bemade to fit telescopically upon the front portion, as shown in Fig. 6,whereby portions B of the trumpets B.

such rear portion maybe turned slightly to conform to the shape of thehead of the wearer. At their smaller ends B and immediately above theears the trumpets B are provided with downwardly projecting pieces C,s0-

shaped that their upper ends 0 fit upon the In this way thedownwardly-projecting pieces 0 may be at any time turned outward, moreparticularly for the purpose of applying the instrument to the head,and, further, if necessary, such pieces 0 may be removed for cleansingor other purposes. It will also be seen that the earpieces may, ifnecessary, be turned inward to the center of the instrument forconvenience of transport. The pieces 0 are also provided withball-and-socket or other similar joints, whereby they may be moved asrequired. These joints may be simply composed of the two pieces joinedtogether by means of a piece of rubber tubing 0 which I find in practicewell answers the purpose. The lower ends of the downwardly-projectingpieces 0 are provided with earpieces D, preferablyof vulcanite, forapplication to the earpassage for the conveyance of the soundwaves.These earpieces D are made to fit telescopically within the lower end Cof the pieces 0, whereby they may be varied in position to suit therequirements of the user.

In Fig. twill be seen an improved construction of earpiece which isprovided with a downwardly-projecting stud D upon the underneath side,which when applied to the ear bears upon the lower bones of the ears andgreatly assists in transmitting the vibrations to the ear-drum.

In practicethe framework A is either covered with an open network ofsilk or other material of any desired ornamental design, whereby it isadapted to form the crown of a cap or other head-covering, or ifnecessary the whole framework A may be adapted to fit within the crownof a hat, as shown in Fig. 5. Care must, however, be taken that thefront portion is covered only with loose open-work material, such asopen crossed strawwork, whereby the sound-waves may be allowed to enterthe bell-mouths B of the trumpets B. The hat or cap or otherhead-covering comprising the instrument is then placed upon the head,with the bell-shaped mouths B of the trumpets B toward the front and themetal of the trumpets B bearing upon the top of the forehead, and theearpieces D are placed within the ears. In this way the sound-waves asentering the mouths B of the trumpets B are conveyed to the car withoutany inconvenience to the user and are accentuated by bearing upon thebones of the head, and at the same time an instrument is provided whichis not unsightly or conspicuous.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In ear-trumpets and in combination, a framework adapted to form thecrown of a hat, cap orother head-gear, means adapted to be securedwithin the said framework for concentratin g the sound-waves,downwardly-projecting earpieces secured to said means, and studs uponthe under sides of said earpieces and integral therewith, substantiallyas specified.

2. In ear-trumpets and in combination, a framework adapted to form thecrown of a hat, cap or other head-gear, trumpets secured within the saidframework, downwardly-projecting earpieces secured to the said trumpets,and studs upon the under sides of said earpieces and integral therewith,substantially as specified.

In ear-trumpets and in combination, a framework adapted to form thecrown of a hat, cap or other head-gear, trumpets secured with the saidframework, means fol-adjusting the length of said trumpets,downwardly-projecting earpieces secured to the said trumpets, and studsupon the under sides of said earpieces and integral therewith,substantially as specified.

4. In ear-trumpets and in combination, a framework adapted to form thecrown ofa hat, cap or other head-gear, two trumpets adapted to fitadjustably within said framework and to be secured thereto, means forconnecting said trumpets together, downwardly-extending tubular parts,devices connecting the same to the said trumpets, earpieces connectedtelescopically to said tubular parts, and studs upon the under sides ofsaid earpieces and integral therewith, substantially as specified.

5. In ear-trumpets and in combination, a framework adapted to form thecrown of a hat, cap or other head-gear, trumpets having telescopingparts whereby they may be adj ustably fitted to and secured within thesaid framework, plates, having slots, for adjustably connecting the saidtrumpets together, downwardly-extending tubular parts, devicesconnecting the same to the said trumpets, earpieces connectedtelescopically to said tubular parts, and studs upon the under sides ofsaid earpieces and integral therewith, substantially as set forth.

-6. In ear-trumpets and in combination, a framework adapted to form thecrown of a hat, cap or other head-gear, a trumpet secured within thesaid framework and having a mouth adapted to bear upon the forehead ofthe wearer, and downwardly-projecting earpieces secured to the saidtrumpet.

'7. In ear-trumpets and in combination, a framework adapted to form thecrown of a hat, cap or other head-gear, trumpets secured within the saidframework and having mouths conforming with the outline of saidframework and adapted to bear upon the forehead of the wearer, means foradjusting the lengths of said trumpets, and downwardly-projectingearpieces secured to the said trumpets, substantially as specified.

8. In ear-trumpets and in combination, a

hat, cap or other head-gear, a trumpet secured within the said frameworkand having a mouth conforming therewith and adapted to 15 bear upon theforehead of the wearer, and downWardly-projecting earpieces secured tothe said trumpet, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit- 2o HGSSGS.

THOMAS WILLIAM MESSENGER.

- \Vitnesses:

CHARLES S. BURGESS, CLEM. A. HACK.

